Combined timer and distributor



Jan. 29, 1935. w. G. SCHNEIDER ET AL 1,989,629

COMBINED TIMER AND DISTRIBUTOR Filed Aug. 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l u gwuentoz I 1 5 b.)\\ um-\ GfDcHNE mew. I IE1 LJNJEE M. FEJEND @Cforucq S Jan. 29, 1935. w. G. SCHNEIDER ET AL 1,989,629

COMBINED TIMER AND DISTRIBUTOR Filed Aug. 15, 1929 2 SheetsSheet 2 T T-Q:

Qnmnfoc LJLUAM QTDQHNBDEQ UALTEE. M. FEAEND Patented Jan. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES COMBINED TIMER William G. Schneider,

Friend, Toledo, Ohio,

AND DISTRIBUTOR v Maumee, and Walter M. assignors to The Electric Auto-Lite Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 15,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to ignition devices for internal combustion engines and more particularly to a timer and distributor mechanism used in anignition system for timing and distributing the ignition sparks for such an engine.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of an improved device of this character in which the time of occurrence of the sparks may be manually or automatically advanced in accordance with the varying speed of the engine.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an improved mounting for the interrupter cam of such nature as to permit an automatic adjustment of the cam relative to the drive shaft.

The invention further embraces the provision of improved centrifugal means for automatically changing the relative time of occurrence of the sparks and means for adjusting the initial andflnal limits of the action of the centrifugal means, and includes the provision of an improved means for supporting the centrifugalmeans whereby the friction set up between the moving parts is reduced to a minimum.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawings of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the spark timing and distributing device of our invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same;

I Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the distributor taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing the centrifugal device for advancing a spark timing means;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the cover and distributing arm removed;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail view showing the method ofsecuring the distributor cap in position;

Figure 6 is a disassembled view of the cam shaft and parts carried thereby;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view showing one of the weights and supporting mechanism therefor;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 7 show- 1929, Serial No. 386,003

ing the means for supporting one of the weights;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the driving shaft and centrifugal weight supporting means.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the operative parts of the combined timer and distributor are adapted to be enclosed within a cup-like housing 5 having a downwardly extending stem 6, the cup-like portion of the housing supporting a distributor cap 7. The housing is preferably supported by means of the stem 6 which also provides an elongated bearing for the drive shaft 9. The distributor cap '1, preferably constructed of suitable insulating material, is detachably mounted upon the casing 5, secured thereto by means of a pair of resilient clips 10, which are pivoted at 11 to clips 14 secured to the casing 5, and have their upper portions engaging in suitable notches 12 formed in opposite sides of the cap '7. The distributor cap 7 is formed with terminal inserts 13 to which high tension leads may be connected and whose inner ends lie adjacent the path of travel of the distributor arm 15, the latter being provided with a current conducting resilient member 16 and plate 20. The resilient member 16 and plate 20 are arranged between projections 31 formed on the arm 15 and are held in place by a single rivet, the resilient member 16 having a bent up or raised portion adapted for engagement with a contact 26. The resilient member together with the plate 20 functions to distribute the current successively to the contacts 13 which are in turn connected to the respective cylinders of the engine.

The housing 5 is separated into two compartments by means of a plate 1'7 formed with a plurality of upwardly projecting ears 18 having openings adapted to receive screws 19, the latter serving a dual purpose viz., securing the plate 17 in position and retaining the pivotal members cooperating with the clips 10 as particularly shown in Figure 5.

The mechanism for periodically separating the contacts in the circuit comprises a cam 22 formed with a plurality of lobes 23 which are adapted to intermittently engage a rubbing block 24 fixedly secured to a pivoted breaker lever 25. The plate 1'7 is formed with an upwardly projecting finger 27 which is provided with a threaded opening adapted to receive a threaded contact member 28. The contact member 28 may be adjusted and locked in adjusted position by means of a nut 29, the member 28 being adapted for engagement with a contact30 fixed to the extremity of the breaker lever 25. The lever is pivoted for oscillation around a pintle 32 and is insulated therefrom by means of a bushing'34 of insulating material the lever being electrically connected to a binding post by means of resilient strips 33. One of the strips 33 is preferably made of a good current conducting material, as, for example, copper, the other strip being, preferably constructed of. a highly flexible material as, for example, steel, the latter being for the purpose of urging the breaker lever toward the cam 22.

The strips 33 are connected to a binding post 35 which in turn is connected by' means of afiexible lead 36 to a condenser 37 suitably suspended from a bracket 38 secured to the exterior sur- It is essential in the successful operation of an,

internal combustion engine of the variable speed type, that thetime' of firing of the charges in the cylinders be advanced with an increase in speed of the engine. To this end the driving shaft 9 is provided with a reduced portion 40 which is preferably'non-circular and which snugly receives a plate or Weight supporting element 42. In the assembly of the plate 42 and driving shaft 9, the plate is pressed over the reduced portion 40 of the" shaft and a portion of the shaft spun or swaged over upon the plate as at 43 so as to prevent displacement of the parts.

Fixedly secured within openings in the plate 4-2 isa pair of pivot. members 45,-each member having an enlarged shoulder portion 46 and a tenon er, the latter projecting through the plate 42 and an L-shaped member-49', and upset or riveted as shown at 50 to hold the parts in fixed relation. Pivo-ted uponeach tenon 45 is an elongated weight 52-, the weights being supported upon the shoulder 46 and raised projections 53 struck up or formed out of the body of the plate 42. This means of supporting the weights 52 provides a minimum bearing surface therefor so that the friction existing set up between the parts is reduced to a minimum. r

The weights 52 are resiliently held with their inner opposededges adjacent the shaft 9 by means of tension members-or springs 55'; the springs 55- are not, however, connected directly to the weights 5'2 but are securedto upwardly projecting pins 57 carried by projecting portions of a collar member 58, which collar is also provided with downwardly projecting tenons or pins 60 projecting into apertures 62 in the weights 52. The opposite extremities of the springs 55- are looped over the ends of the upwardly projecting L-shaped members 49 secured to the plate 42. The collar or sleeve 58 is snugly fitted over one end of a sleeve 21 forming the lower portion of the camelement 22. The sleeve 21 is loosely received over a reduced portion 64 of the shaft 9, and is adapted for rotative movement relative to the rotation of the shaft. The shaft 9 is adapted to be rotated by means of a gear 8 fixed tothe lower end thereof which is adapted for enmeshinent with a driving gear (not shown) operated from the'engine (not shown).

' In the operation of the'device of my invention, the? shaft 9 is rotated in one direction,- and through the medium of the weights 52, springs 55 and sleeve 58, the s1eeve21 and the cammember 22 are normally adapted to rotate with the shaft as a unitary structure. The parts continue to rotate fixed relation until the speed of rotation-of" the shaft 9 increases and sets up a centrifugal force sumcient to cause the weights 52 to swing outwardly away from the axis of the shaft 9, and in opposition to the tension in the springs 55. As this outward movement of the weights 52 takes place, the pins 60 projecting into the aperture 62 in the weights are adapted to change their position relative to the plate 42, and as the pins 60 are secured to the sleeve member 58, the latter together with the cam 22 are caused to change their positions relative to their initial position. The lobes 23 of the cam 22, While in rotation, operate to intermittently engage the rubbing block 24 carried by the pivoted lever 25, and periodically separate the contacts 28 and 30 and cause an interruption in the primary circuit ofethe ignition system to effectuate the firing of the cylinders of the engine in their regular order.

Due to the lag or retardation of the flame propagation within the cylinders of the engine when it is travelling at comparatively high speed,it is essential to: its successful operation, to advance: the time of interruption of the primary circuit which obviously advances theperiod of firing the mixture charges within the cylinders. Thus ata high speed of the engine, the relative position. of the cam 22 is changed sufficiently to advance the time in which the actual interruption of the primary circuits, i.e,,the interruption: of the contacts 28 and 30, this action beingsaccomplished by the outward movement of the weights 52', As the speed of the engine is decreased, the weights 52 are again urgedv inwardly toward the shaft 9' under the influence of the springs 55, andthus' retarding the time of firing or the time of interrupting the primary circuits. A manual adjustment of the spark advance may also be obtained by moving the arm 65 secured to the depending portion 6 of the housing 5, which'movement serves to change the positions of drive shaft 9 andcam;

22 relative to the breaker lever 25, the latter being carried by the plate 17 secured to and movable with the housing. 5.- V It is apparent that, within the scope of themvention modifications and different arrangements may be made other than is herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

' What We claim is: a

1. In an ignition timenthe combination of 'a; circuit interrupting device including a cam; a shaft, said cam being capable of movement relative to said shaft; a centrifugal device including a weight for controlling the relative position of said cam a spring for normally maintainingthe weight in a fixed position; an anchor for said spring comprising a sheet metal member adapted to be flexed to vary the tension exerted by said spring.

2. In a device of the character disclosed, a shaft; a plate fixed to said shaft, sa-id plate being formed with-an integrally raised elongated portion; a centrifugal device including a weight piv otally supported upon said plate, said elongated raised portion being arranged at an angle to the normal line of pivotal movementof said weight and providing a substantial bearing support for said weight. 7 V

3. In a device of the character disclosed, the combination of a shaft; a sheet metal plate carried by said shaft and having a struck up portion; a centrifugal device including a weightpivotally supported. upon said plate; said struck up portion forming; a bearingsupport for said weight; and a spring for normally holding said determined position; a sheet metal anchor memweight in a predetermined position. ber for said spring, the pivotal support for said 4. In a device of the character disclosed, the weight acting to hold said anchor member to said combination of a shaft; a sheet metal plate carcarrier plate.

ried by said shaft; a centrifugal device including a weight pivotally supported upon said plate; a WILLIAM G. SCHNEIDER.

spring for normally holding said weight in a pre- WALTER M. FRIEND. 

